CCR Feedback

We received quite a bit of response after our CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Article first ran in FORGOTTEN HITS back in 2003 ... here are some of the comments from our readers.  You can send us YOUR thoughts and comments as well and we'll post them here with the others.  Just drop us an email at forgottenhits@aol.com and then continue to watch these pages!  As always, thank you for your support!

In addition to your comments (and our responses), a few NEW topics NOT covered in the original series were ALSO addressed in these pages ... hopefully, some of these will offer even MORE insight into the ways and workings of JOHN FOGERTY and CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL.

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>>>Why would anybody bother to go see CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVISITED, the band assembled by STU COOK and DOUG CLIFFORD, the two non-singing members of the band (featuring a young FOGERTY sound-alike singing the hits), yet these guys are CONSTANTLY out on the road playing the small club circuit ... so SOMEBODY must be going to see them!!!  (kk)

If you get the chance, go hear CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVISITED. The songs (after all, that is what we want to hear) are faithfully reproduced. The lead singer is a dead ringer for FOGERTY and the lead guitarist (formerly from "The Cars") matches Fogerty lick-for-lick.
Spudpar

Funnily enough, after reading your comment I flashed back to that scene in EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS where SOL's leading a Vegas-type show-band type band that then brings out an "EDDIE soundalike" to do ON THE DARK SIDE. I guess my question back to you would be, "Why go see a 'dead ringer for Fogerty' who 'matches Fogerty lick-for-lick' when you can go see the ORIGINAL Real Deal?!?!? FOGERTY invented some of the greatest, best known guitar licks in rock and roll history! Why go watch some OTHER guy duplicate them? In all fairness, however, STU COOK and DOUG CLIFFORD have been together, in one form or another for about 45 years straight ... that is a friendship and loyalty (and, quite honestly, probably a dependency) that cannot be denied. I have heard that they put on an excellent show, recreating the sound of CCR ... and they CERTAINLY deserve the right to earn a living playing the music that they helped to create ... but, for me personally, I'll take the ORIGINAL every time!  (kk)

Wow ! Thanks so much for turning me on to this "band", The Blue Ridge Rangers ... I've been a huge CCR fan all my life, but somehow this slipped under my radar.  If anyone is interested, CD Universe has the CD for only $11.29 plus $2.99 shipping. (http://www.cduniverse.com)
Love the wavs, Keep up the most excellent work !!!
BC

What a GREAT song! Thanks for the info about The Blue Ridge Rangers ... very cool :)
~Christy

Excellent song from a good album!
Of course you know the five silhouetted musicians on the album cover are all Fogerty ...
Ty,
Bob

We covered THE BLUE RIDGE RANGERS and JOHN FOGERTY's solo years in our CCR Crash Course Series.  At the time, FOGERTY had been out of the spotlight for SO long that a LOT of music fans out there didn't even REALIZE that he had a successful solo career after the break-up of CCR.  There is some great music here (much of it out of print for years) waiting to be discovered by FOGERTY fans.  (kk)

Hi Kent,

Years before, in 1966, I went to a local teen club in Merced, California, to see a band that was big in the San Joaquin Valley and around Frisco, but pretty much no where else. Their name was the Golliwogs, and they had a local hit called Brown Eyed Girl. A year and a half later, now living in L.A., I hear a song called Susie Q, and I thought, "Dang that voice sounds familiar!"  Sure enough, the boys changed their name to Creedence etc. and away they went. :-)
Lurkyfoot

We featured their minor local hit BROWN EYED GIRL in one of our FORGOTTEN HITS mailings ... along with the first "official" CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL single, PORTERVILLE. And, to round things off, we even sent along THE CCR MEDLEY, (official title: MEDLEY USA) which FANTASY released in 1981, trying to cash-in on that STARS ON 45 success ... it's now a VERY rare collectible single that does NOT appear on the recent Box Set.  (kk)

I was such a Fogerty fan, I am surprised I don't remember that one. (Hearts Of Stone) Also I didn't remember the CCR breakup that way -- I had thought it was over someone's heroin habit. Am I wrong about that? -- jdthedj

Far from being angels, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL were not really part of the drug-culture that so encompassed San Francisco in the late '60's. (FOGERTY has stated that, although he tried marijuana, he always felt the need to be "in control" and didn't like the way it made him feel.) As you saw in our series, CREEDENCE went on to play WOODSTOCK (although they did not appear in the film) ... and drugs had NOTHING to do with their break-up. Simply put, the other members of the band felt that JOHN had too much power ... despite the fact that it was HIS songs and HIS voice that took them everywhere they ever went, they wanted equal time and a chance to write and sing their own material.  Sadly, it was this "power struggle" that ultimately destroyed the band.  (kk)

As part of our original FORGOTTEN HITS Series, we sent out the FIRST "official" single released by CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL as well as the last. SOMEDAY NEVER COMES was a #25 hit in the early summer of 1972 ... it was to be the last single that the band would release featuring new material. (I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, an album track from COSMO'S FACTORY, was released four years later by FANTASY RECORDS in an effort to catch on with the mega-dance-mixes that were beginning to fill discos around the country.)  We also sent out their GREAT cover version of HELLO MARY LOU, which appeared on CCR's MARDI GRAS album, the last LP released by the band. It was often rumored in the early '80's (during one of JOHN's hibernation periods) that JOHN FOGERTY was going to produce a RICK NELSON album ... and, in fact, a couple of tracks were recorded. JOHN and RICK ALSO appeared together on an LP put out by CARL PERKINS, a life-long idol to BOTH musicians. Unfortunately, none of these FOGERTY / NELSON sessions were ever released ... so sending JOHN's VERY faithful arrangement of HELLO MARY LOU became an EXCELLENT tribute to share.  And, since so many folks on the list were not familiar with the fact that FOGERTY fronted THE BLUE RIDGE RANGERS (they were, in fact, a one-man band ... FOGERTY played ALL the instruments and handled ALL the vocals ... not having to answer to ANYONE!) ... we also sent along their first (and biggest) hit, JAMBALAYA, #10 in CASH BOX MAGAZINE in early 1973.  (kk)

JOHN's PHILOSOPHY ON OUT-TAKES:  On CCR's second album, BAYOU COUNTRY, they recorded a song called BOOTLEG. You won't find too many JOHN FOGERTY or CCR studio bootlegs or outtakes, however ... JOHN made it a practice to erase ALL of the unused tapes at the end of each and every recording session. He said that after seeing the hundreds of repackages of JIMI HENDRIX tapes that were released after his death, he didn't want that to EVER happen to him. The version that was he picked for release was the ONLY way JOHN wanted that song heard. (The fact that a couple of "Alternate Mixes" FINALLY surfaced in 2008 when FANTASY RECORDS re-released the entire CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL catalog with "Bonus Tracks" is therefore QUITE a coup!!!  (kk)

DIDJAKNOW?: In 1980, FANTASY RECORDS released a LIVE album by CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL titled THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL CONCERT, which was supposedly recorded during CCR's British tour on April 14, 1970. When they discovered that the tracks were ACTUALLY recorded at the Oakland Coliseum on January 31, 1970, it was quickly repackaged and retitled "THE CONCERT". Original pressings of the ROYAL ALBERT HALL disk are now going for about $50.  (kk)

Before we get to the next batch of comments, I wanted to FIRST point out that I have been a HUGE CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL fan for all my life. I have bought (and re-bought ... and re-bought ... and re-bought again!) everything they've ever put out, including all of JOHN FOGERTY's solo material.  I am ABSOLUTELY and POSITIVELY a FAN of this man's music.  If, however, in telling this story, I made JOHN FOGERTY look like a complete jerk, it is ONLY because, more often than not, he has BEEN a complete jerk!!! Look, I love the man ... I think he's one of the most talented musicians to EVER come along ... but that's the facts, Jack ... it is absolutely AMAZING to me that STU COOK and DOUG CLIFFORD can STILL look beyond all the pain and heartache that this man has caused them and want to go out there and keep this music alive. It's music that deserves to be heard ... and these are artists that deserve to be seen.  (If JOHN's going to perform and record with ANY Bass Player or Drummer, why NOT these guys???) It truly is a shame that these lifelong comrades cannot put their differences aside after all these years ... you would think that after losing a brother, JOHN would hold their legacy a little closer to his heart. Maybe someday ... but, so far, someday never comes.  (kk)

***

Being from New Orleans, I loved the sound of CCR. I remember hearing Suzie Q on the radio and wondering if the band was from Louisiana. I did not check out their first album until after Proud Mary was a hit. I quickly bought the first two albums. I remember seeing CCR on American Bandstand and being surprised to see they were white!   Bruce Spizer

I'm really enjoying your writings on CCR. Fogerty's one of my all time fav "voices" along with David Clayton Thomas. lol - Have I ever heard "  Porterville"??? I guess we'll find out, huh?? Well, I guess if you're gonna take a road trip - CCR is the band to take with, huh??? "Just got back from Illinois - locked the front door - Oh, boy ..." If ever there was a band that always put a smile on my face and made me dance around a room - lol, sometimes even the vacuum cleaner seemed happier - this was the band!!! And ... I just gotta have that box set!!!! I'll check with my son first to see if he has it. He never ceases to amaze me with his varied taste in music - lol, We all know where that apple falls, don't we?? It's no wonder I'm just a tad on the "eclectic" side when it comes to music. He has everything from the Moody Blues to Judas Priest to Hank Williams Jr. and he can name that tune in 2 notes!! I'd like to think his love of music came from me, but I gotta say it's the other way around. It was his deep love for music that gave me the appreciation I have today. And in the '80s when I listened to him say, "Mom - Listen to this and see if you like it" and I'd come back and say, "Okay, but then ya gotta listen to one of mine, too" - that there was always something blaring in the house - his, mine or whatever as long as it put smiles on our faces - it was all good!!!! Gotta have that box set!!! Thanks again. Great Week!!!! ~~ Vicki

The box set is outstanding ... unfortunately, I'm re-buying MOST of this stuff for the umpteenth time again (and now yet AGAIN here in 2008!!!) ... but to finally have ALL of the GOLLIWOGS tracks in one place (in CD quality no less) and both live, concert LPs ... and those few, VERY rare priceless tracks by THE BLUE VELVETS ... well, that was enough for me! It's priced right around $100 ($99.99 most places I've seen it) but it includes EVERY track the band ever recorded ... money well spent in my book.  (NOTE:  Of course now with the 40th Anniversary Reissues, there are even MORE "new" Bonus Tracks available, including alternate studio mixes and previously unreleased "live" cuts!!!  And that Box Set now sells for around $160 ... if you can find one!!!)  kk

Well, finally some info on the Golliwogs. In 1966 i lived in the San Joaquin Valley, a hop, skip and jump from Frisco and I got to see them play in Merced, California, at the same place I saw The Lovin' Spoonful and a young Janis Joplin, well actually they were only called Big Brother and the Holding Company, she wasnt headliner yet. That was just before the Monterey Pop Festival.  They (the Golliwogs) passed out copies of their record, Brown-Eyed Girl, the center label area was white, with only their name and the song. God, I wish I still had that ... memorabilia, LOL
Lurkyfoot

That'd be a pretty collectible piece of music if you still had it there, Lurky ... were they wearing the goofy white wigs the night you saw them?!?!? (kk)

I was lucky enough to see Creedence at the old Boston Garden on a ridiculously hot night in the middle of September, 1970. We had floor seats about 1/2 way back (at the red line or center court, take your pick LOL). The show was great, but The Garden was absolutely the worst place to see / hear a rock concert. The acoustics were terrible and everything resounded off those old dingy walls and ceiling. I guess that's what you wanted when the Celtics and Bruins were winning and the crowd was screaming, huh!?!?! Probably very similar to the old Chicago Stadium would be my guess.
Bill ;-)

Excellent work putting this all together, Kent. I can't wait till tomorrow's installation.

... and then ...

Wow, this story keeps getting more and more fascinating! Thank you for your diligent research. Your ability to weave an interesting tale is very impressive. I'm sure you have heard a million times that you should write a book. Thanks once again!

...and then...

This CCR series is excellent. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you so much for your hard work. Brit

... and then .... and then .... and then Along Came Jones .... (just kidding!)  Thanks, really, for the kind words. Actually, someone else on the list told me how they loved the way this whole story unfolded ... they couldn't wait for the next episode to come out the following day to find out what happened next! Someone else said that, although they were too young for all this when CREEDENCE was popular, they've always kind of like CCR's music, and this piece made them feel like they were right there while all this was happening. Pretty cool. These are exactly the types of series I enjoy doing most for FORGOTTEN HITS ... and, the fact that I've loved this band since the beginning of time certainly makes it easier to share the labor of love. (It's a nice break from the day-to-day FH piece.) Thanks again.  (kk)

EXCELLENT package today!! You know one of the things that made CCR so great was the fact that they had that Sun sound. 

Bob

Well, another great morning!! Thank you. A small story for you. But, such an insight into "today's" music. As I played a few CCR's thru the puter last night, my 17-year-old granddaughter danced around the room. She said, "CREEDENCE!!!!!! Wow! How lucky you guys were to have been kids when all these great groups were around. We have NOTHING - not one band - to look back on and identify with during our teen years. Who wants to look back and remember Eminem sing about killing his mother!!!!" Then she went on to tell me how many of her friends sing along with Beatles and Beach Boys songs - knowing every one of them word for word, absolutely denying the music of their own decade as "negative junk". Then, she looked at me and said - "And the record producers wonder why we don't buy music???"
We lived thru some great music!! And just like these kids - we could hear the opening notes and know immediately = Creedence - Beatles - Beach Boys - and it did - and still does, put an instant smile on our faces!!
Thanks for the good stuff!! ~~ Vicki

It's interesting to me how this is STILL such a PRIME topic in FORGOTTEN HITS ... even five years later ... the lack of "long-lasting" quality output by the music being released and being played today vs. the music we grew up with that "in-the-know" radio programmers keep telling us NO ONE wants to listen to anymore!!!  How TOTALLY untrue ... you mentioned your 17 year old grand-daughter singing along and dancing to it and now, five plus years later, we're seeing 9, 10, 12 and 13 year old kids doing EXACTLY the same thing!!!  This music is TIMELESS and we CAN'T let it die!!!  If FORGOTTEN HITS accomplishes NOTHING else, we have at least driven THAT point home in a VERY big way!!!  (kk)

i must confess that i have never been a CCR fan - how's that for unamerican? - and i further confess to only liking one CCR song, "lookin' out my back door" - why? you ask...well, becaue it's the only song i know that mentions buck owens. i once saw marshall crenshaw doing a live "in store" show in lawrence, kansas, wherein he did this song, further cementing it into my "favorites" category. (vaguememory)

I remember after the CYMARRON hit RINGS made the pop charts (mentioning JAMES TAYLOR on the stereo) hearing the COUNTRY version (by TOMPALL AND THE GLASER BROTHERS) where they changed the lyric to "Got MERLE HAGGARD on the stereo." It's kinda cool to hear one artist acknowledge another in song. (LYNYRD SKYNYRD mentioning NEIL YOUNG's SOUTHERN MAN in SWEET HOME ALABAMA, etc.) JOHN FOGERTY certainly had some deep country roots and his BLUE RIDGE RANGERS album is "living proof" of that.  (kk)

Wow! The ego on these guys! Looks like Tom, Stu and Doug de-railed their own gravy train! Interesting stuff! 

Ed

Kind of a "don't bite the hand that feeds you" sentiment??? I'm sure they felt they had some right to share in the glory ... but it sure ended ugly. What a shame.  (kk)

CCR has always been one of my favorites. If you check with Classic Rock program directors, you will find out that their support is unwavering. Regardless of the swings in musical taste (even the Stones and Eagles), CCR remains universally popular.  Is it possible you did a two-day report on CCR without mentioning "Long as I Can See the Light?"  John

Looking back over a week's worth of rambling, I think you're right ... LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT was never even mentioned!!! Problem is, I was such a HUGE CCR fan back then ... and had SO many favorites ... that even today it'd be difficult to single out even a favorite baker's dozen. Back in the late '60's and early '70's, playing in my very first rock band, BAD MOON RISING was either the first or second song I ever sang in public ... I did both HONKY TONK WOMEN and BAD MOON that night and I honestly can't remember which one came first ... in fact, I think before the night was over, I'd sung both songs about four times each because we didn't know enough material to fill three sets!  (lol) As time went on, we quickly added a couple dozen CCR songs to our repertoire. (The chord changes were easy enough to learn an entire album's worth of material in one long practice session!) LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT is just one more GREAT FOGERTY tune ... a rare ballad that hit #2 on the Billboard Chart as the "tag-along" B-Side to LOOKIN' OUT MY BACK DOOR. (Another ballad favorite of mine is WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE from the GREEN RIVER LP.)  kk

I never cared for Someday Never Comes. I always liked the B side, Tearin' Up The Country more, although both sides really sucked. Actually, I was able to purchase several ORIGINAL FIRST PRESSING copies of the single in a record store in 1995 when they still carried vinyl 45s of the hits of the day, and oldies reissues (also got other ccr reissue singles there at the same time, as well as 2 45s of songs that were currently tearing up the charts.)
Oh well, if a single from 1972 can be found brand new in a store 23 years later, it obviously must not have fared well with their fans. Tom

>>>as part of what he believed to be a standard artist's contract, JOHN FOGERTY had signed away the rights to all of his songs in a 1967 contract with Saul Zaentz, President of Fantasy Records. Of course, back then, no one could have possibly imagined what that song catalog would one day be worth.  (kk)
Yep, I remember contracts such as this. Back then they owned you, and you would jump at anything that sounded good. However by doing it you lost who knows how much in money for music, film, photos and even your name in some cases. Just so one day you can sit in your home and watch the Telly to hear your music and your words selling everything from autos to toothpaste and you get nothing ... and you can't say nothing. This is why I've said the record companies or the only ones really making any money, really in record resale, time and time again. OK enough said. Great article and thanks for spotlighting one of my all time favorite American bands, CCR. Keep the hits coming.
Peace and Love,
David aka Paulx
It's happened ALL too often ... eager, young kids, finally finding some sense of recognition, only to sign it all away to the big, bad record labels. (Sort of like making a deal with the Devil in some ways!) Granted, the labels DO have upfront costs in promoting an upstart band ... and the percentage that actually make it is VERY small ... but back in the earliest days of rock and roll it was common practice to sign away half (or more) of your publishing rights, putting someone else's name on your compositions and lots worse. In this case, it seems JOHN wanted out of his contract bad enough to sign away EVERYTHING ... pretty foolish, in hindsight ... but you don't always do rational things when you're angry and hurt. (We can certainly relate ... if you want out of something BAD enough, you pretty much give up everything!)  kk

This piece on CCR has been very insightful. For one thing, you helped me make a connection between CCR, Hank Williams and the mexican polka music I grew up listening to. I knew Hank Williams had a hit with a song called "Jambalaya" but I had never heard it (or so I thought). My dad had an LP of some tex-mex band called Los Felinos which he would play for me when I was little. They did "Jambalaya" and since it sounded so mexican, I thought it was their original song. So now you sent the Blue Ridge Rangers version, and guess what? It's the same song I already knew that my dad and me used to dance to! lol thanks for the info! - Beatle Princess
JAMBALAYA is a country classic ... a #1 Hit for HANK WILLIAMS (the grand-daddy of country music) in 1952 for FOURTEEN weeks! It's been cut by HUNDREDS of artists since ... and still holds up very well 50 years later.  (kk)

In my humble opinion, Fogerty did not plagiarize himself; however, Run Through The Jungle and The Old Man Down The Road both are similar in song structure and style just as She's A Woman and She's About A Mover compare. Voila! I secondly recommend the CCR bio Bad Moon Rising. It's comprehensive and details the heartbreaking demise of this great band, i.e., The R&R Induction Ceremony of CCR, where Fogerty refused to play with Stu & Doug, etc. 

Bob

I still don't see how you can steal from yourself ... as long as BOTH pieces of music came to you separately, I don't see how that can be construed as plagiarism. Think of how many acts over the years have tried their damndest to make their songs sound similar for the sake of immediate audience recognition.  (kk)

Re: the Bootleg Dept. -- I have, over the years, been able to find several bootlegs of CCR live concert recordings. Most have been made from inferior audience tapes but I had (HAD being the opportune word...don't have it anymore...Commerce, y'know?) one great soundboard recording of a supposed European concert. Also, I have had a couple bootleg copies of Fogerty's unreleased "Hoodoo" album. It's good but nothing to write home about. Maybe John should have had those tapes erased as well. Ed44

There have been LIVE bootlegs circulating for years ... but none as good as the two OFFICIAL live albums that FANTASY released. Studio outtakes, however, are nearly impossible to come by. HOODOO was actually pressed and readied for release ... I used to have a cassette copy years ago that has long since disintegrated. (If you have a copy you'd like to share, I'd love to have it again.) No, it's not his best work ... but I tend to be a "complete-ist". (LOL) All subsequent studio tapes, from what I understand, have been erased. (It would be cool to get an audio copy of that SHOWTIME special 'tho, with his steller "back-up" band.)  kk

After hearing the CCR medley, (I had not heard it before), I can understand why the single went nowhere. Who put together the tape? I can do better with the 20 greatest hits CD and the pause button on the cassette deck! I saw John Fogerty at the first Farm Aid in 1985 and he did just covers of R&B classics. Then I saw him at the House Of Blues in 1998, I believe, and of course he did all the hits. John Fogerty's story is one that has been repeated by many artists, who did not have the foresight to protect their music, or in their haste to get out of an unjust contract, shoot themselves in the foot. As much as I enjoy Fogerty's music, he truly only has himself to blame. John, if you're on Kent's mailing list, and you're reading this, LET IT GO! 

Good series, Kent, it could be the best you've done since I came on board. 

Jack

I don't think too many people have ever heard the CCR Medley before ... it pretty well sank into oblivion when it was released. I thought it was pretty shoddy, too ... yet a couple folks on the list wrote in to say that they really enjoyed it. FOGERTY has been pretty much a FARM AID regular for years ... great chance to see him perform three or four tunes. He's still in great voice and, hopefully, will continue to provide us with more great music to come.  (kk)

Excellent job on the CCR retrospective. It's very hard not to villiainize either party but now thanks to you we get to see both sides of the story. Job well done!
- Beatle Princess

Terrific series on CCR & John Fogerty - music is always great but I learn so much too, but then when you don't know much that's easy! Their story really is tragic - old Saul really did them in especially with that Bank thing in the Bahamas but the greatest tragedy is John not jamming with Tom before he died. Thanks for such a great effort - good to "Add some Music to My Life"
Mark

just a totally superb CCR piece, hon. your writing was top-notch, and while i am not the CCR fan that you are and never will be, i can truly say that this is one of your best. i read every word and gained a better understanding of the reason for my always-perceived John Fogerty's jackass attitude.
proud of you..as always!
Cherricat

Knowing that you don't like CCR (actually, "can't stand" is probably a more accurate appraisal), I remember asking you up front to just READ the story ... there was a fascinating story to be told "behind the music," so to speak and, you're right ... it certainly DOES explain a lot of things. Too bad these guys can't put their differences aside ... they made some incredible music together. (Of course, if they ever really DID reunite and toured again, I'd be spending all my time convincing you how we absolutely HAD to go see them!!!) Love Ya! (kk)

Good work, except for one glaring error.  Fogerty insisted Cook and Clifford each write and sing one third of Mardi Gras, telling them he would immediately quit if they refused.  They argued that the result would not be a Creedence LP, and that the fans would reject it, but in the end their desire to keep the band from breaking up won out, and the ultimatum was accepted.                     

bigboy99

Happy to add your comments to our "CCR FEEDBACK" Page!  Thanks for writing.  (kk)

I would prefer that you research and correct your article.  Thank you.   bigboy

"Double-checking my research" as you suggested, I found THIS information in the HANK BORDOWITZ Book BAD MOON RISING: According to Bassist STU COOK, "After Tom quit, John delivered an ultimatum to Doug and me -- write and sing one third of the next album or he would quit."  However, just a few pages later, BORDOWITZ also writes "John denied having told Doug and Stu that they HAD to write."  BORDOWITZ then quotes STU COOK as saying both "He did deliver such an ultimatum and soon expanded the parameters:  John had required that Doug and I write / sing at least one third each of the MARDI GRAS album."  COOK then claims that "John wouldn't even play on our songs other than rhythm guitar on the tracks."  Another STU COOK quote (from the same conversation) says "If John wanted out at that time, he could've said so."  However, just a paragraph or two later, MARDI GRAS Engineer RUSS GARY states that "John was involved on some of the others' tracks.  He played leads on some of their stuff.  I know Stu had made the statement that John had only played rhythm.  I believe he played a solo on "Tearing Up The Country," Doug's song.  The one on "Door To Door" was John."  When I find THAT many discrepancies surrounding the SAME story, I don't feel it's MY place to choose WHICH story to believe.  FORGOTTEN HITS has ALWAYS been about presenting "The Most Accurate Truth" Possible, based on the facts we're given to deal with. Tell you what ... when I saw CREEDENCE perform live that year as a trio, JOHN didn't leave the stage when they performed DOOR-TO-DOOR (one of my FAVORITES by them, by the way!) ... he played lead guitar throughout and I have no reason to doubt that he ALSO played lead on the record.  In hindsight we know now that FOGERTY was working on his first SOLO album (as THE BLUE RIDGE RANGERS) during these MARDI GRAS sessions ... and there's NO question that he was trying to prove a point to his bandmates.  What makes NO sense at all is WHY he would jeopardize his OWN credibility by allowing them to make such a horseshit album ... but then again ... this was the new "Majority Rules" philosophy that they all had agreed to after TOM left the band following the PENDULUM album.  In HINDSIGHT he probably SHOULD have quit or simply disbanded CCR at that point ... the very fact that he decided to continue on as a trio tells me that he intended to remain a PART of the band ... not purposely self destruct it!!!  (After proving his point that his bandmates WEREN'T ready to perform on HIS level, he almost stepped down in shame!)    To address your SPECIFIC request, the best I can do is present BOTH sides ... NONE of us were there during those sessions to argue otherwise.  (kk)

 

© Copyright Kent Kotal / Forgotten Hits, 1998 - 2025 ... 

All rights reserved

(Note:  This article was first published in Forgotten Hits in 2003)